Tuesday meeting to discuss Common Core

A group of concerned parents and grandparents in Onslow County have arranged for speakers from the North Carolina Education Alliance and the American Principles Project to discuss Common Core with area residents.

A group of concerned parents and grandparents in Onslow County have arranged for speakers from the North Carolina Education Alliance and the American Principles Project to discuss Common Core with area residents.

The Common Core State Standards set out what students are expected to learn in math and English language arts, according to the Common Core website. Onslow County Schools has been working to implement the standards for four years.

Among the speakers is Lindalyn Kakadelis, director of the North Carolina Education Alliance.

Kakadelis, a former school board member who has researched Common Core, said she plans to discuss: what Common Core means; who is in control of it; how it came about in North Carolina; among other topics.

“I think everyone is in agreement that Common Core is a transformational shift in what our teachers have been doing at every classroom level so this has a major impact on the education of our children. I feel that is important to every citizen,” she said.

One concern with Common Core is whether or not educators can modify the standards to better educate their students, Kakadelis said. Another is who is in control of the standards, which were adopted and written through the National Governor’s Association and the State School Chief Officers.

“That’s why I think it’s important for people to understand if they have concerns, who should they talk to. Local boards and local superintendents have very little, have no control in this issue. And our state board has no control since the General Assembly has put it into state statute. ... I guess it leaves the two trade organizations in Washington in control, which is a very long ways away from my child,” she said.

Kakadelis said that she plans to discuss the “good, the bad, and the ugly of Common Core.”

The second planned speaker is Jane Robbins, senior fellow with the American Principles Project, which aims to reinvigorate and restore the country’s founding principles. Robbins could not be reached for comment.

Jacksonville resident Elizabeth Berg said the event is being organized by parents, grandparents and citizens who want to learn more about the standards.

“We just feel education is so important to everyone and affects everyone,” she said.

Berg said that she and others have been trying to research the standards themselves but have found it to be difficult. As a result, they decided to organize the town hall meeting so everyone could get the answers they are searching for.

The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, at First Freewill Baptist Church, located at 919 Gum Branch Road in Jacksonville.

Amanda Hickey is the government reporter at The Daily News. She can be reached at amanda.hickey@jdnews.com.